Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
J ack
The last thing I needed was a misbehaved child and damn Christmas stuff in my house. After changing into more comfortable clothing, I poured myself a bourbon and walked into the kitchen, only to find Sierra and Ellie eating a cookie.
“Want one?” Sierra picked up a cookie. “They’re pretty good.”
“No. Morgan will be here any minute. I need you to take Ellie upstairs. And why are you letting her eat cookies before dinner?”
“Why not?” Sierra smiled. “Are you sure you don’t want one?”
“I don’t want one, Sierra.”
The doorbell rang. Walking to the foyer, I opened the door as Morgan stood there.
“Come in. Can I get you something to drink? Bourbon, scotch, wine?”
“I’ll take a scotch.” She smiled.
I poured her a scotch and handed it to her.
“Jack?” Sierra said. “I’m going to make Ellie macaroni and cheese. She’s hungry now.”
“Fine. Morgan, let’s go into my office where we can talk privately.”
We went up to my office, and I shut the door.
“What did you find out?” I asked.
“If you want to know where she ran off to, there are no credit card records of plane tickets being bought, which means she probably paid cash at the airport.”
“She knew I’d try to find her.” I sighed.
“I spoke to her landlord in Pennsylvania. He said that her lease was up, and she didn’t want to renew. She moved all her things out and into a storage unit near her home. I pulled up her bank records, and she closed her account. As for her phone, she canceled her plan and most likely purchased a burner phone that can’t be traced. I also scoured her social media and hacked into her iCloud. She’s been talking to some guy named Pete Stratford. They’re making all these plans to travel. From what I read, they’re in love.”
“Are you telling me she left her kid to go travel with some guy?”
“Yeah, that’s exactly what I’m saying. I traced his IP address to a home in Seattle. I have his number if you’d like to call him.” She smiled.
“Give it to me.” I picked up my phone and put it on speaker.
“Yeah?” he answered.
“I need to speak with Claire.”
“Who the hell is this?”
“It doesn’t matter. Put Claire on the phone now!”
“Claire, there’s some guy on the phone for you,” I heard him say.
“Jack, is this you?” Claire asked.
“Damn right, it is. Did you really think I don’t have the resources to find you?”
“I didn’t think you’d do it so quickly. I said everything I had to say in the letter.”
“Your letter is bullshit, Claire. You are to come back to New York and get Ellie. She’s been crying for you.”
“I’m sorry, Jack. I can’t. I love our daughter, but I’m lost. I can’t do it anymore.”
“You’re her mother!” I shouted.
“And you’re her father! Take some fucking responsibility. I raised her alone for four years. Now, it’s your turn. She’s a very special little girl; the more you get to know her, the more you’ll see that. Goodbye, Jack. Don’t contact me again. Elianna will be fine. I know you’ll do the right thing. Tell her I love her.”
“No! If you loved her, you wouldn’t have abandoned her.”
“But it was okay for you to abandon her for the first four years of her life? Goodbye, Jack.” She hung up.
Shaking my head, I threw my phone down.
“You want my advice?” Morgan asked. “She’s not coming back, Jack. You’re that little girl’s father, and I’m sure she’s scared to death. Her mother abandoned her, and now her father doesn’t want her either?” Her brow raised.
“It’s not that I don’t want her. I can’t raise her.”
“You can. You’re a billionaire, for God’s sake. You have more resources than most people. I know what it’s like when your mother abandons you, and it’s not easy to accept.”
“Thank you for all your help.” I pulled out my checkbook and wrote her a check. “I’m sure this is enough.” I handed it to her.
“More than enough.” She smiled. “Thank you. I’m heading to Turks and Caicos. If you need me for anything, call.” She stood up, and I walked her to the door.
“Turks and Caicos, eh?” I asked.
“I have a friend whose cousin is paying me to spy on her husband. She’s positive he’s there with another woman. She wants receipts and photos. All expenses paid.” She grinned. “Who am I to turn down a free vacation?”
“I agree. You’d be crazy if you did. Good luck. I hope you find the cheating bastard.”
“Oh, I’ll find him. Call me if you need anything, Jack.”
“I will. Thanks again, Morgan.”
Walking into the kitchen, I saw Sierra and Ellie eating macaroni and cheese at the table.
“You’re eating that too?” I asked.
“I haven’t had it in years. It was always my go-to as a kid,” she said. “Just as good as I remember it.”
“Have some, Daddy,” Ellie said.
“No thanks. I’ll order a pizza.”
Sierra took Ellie upstairs to get her ready for bed. The pizza came, so I grabbed a couple of slices and took my plate to the table.
“What did Morgan have to say?” Sierra asked, walking into the kitchen.
“Claire is in Seattle with some guy. They’re making plans to travel. I spoke to her, and she told me she’s not coming back. She didn’t renew her lease, closed her bank account, and canceled her phone plan. I only got to talk to her because Morgan found the guy’s phone number.”
“She’s an asshole. I’m going to put Ellie to bed. Are you coming up to say good night to your daughter?”
“I’ll be up in a minute.”
I was stressed beyond belief and didn’t know what to do. After finishing my pizza, I went upstairs to say good night to Ellie. When I walked into the bedroom, I saw her curled up against Sierra while she read her a book that was in Ellie’s backpack.
“I think it’s time someone goes to sleep.” I walked over and sat on the edge of the bed.
“I want my mom.”
“I know you do, sweetheart.” I softly ran my finger across her forehead. “But your mom isn’t coming back.”
“Jack!” Sierra said.
“There’s no use lying to her. It is what it is. Your mom left you with me, and we have to make the best of it. Okay?”
“Where did she go?”
“I don’t know, Ellie. Get some sleep.” I leaned over and kissed her forehead.
Sierra said goodnight to her, and we left the room. I took hold of her hand and led her to my bedroom. All I wanted was to be inside her and forget about everything else.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Taking you to bed.”
“I’m not having sex with you, Jack.” Her eyes stared into mine as we stood in the middle of the room.
“No?” I softly kissed her lips while my hands gripped her hips.
“No,” she moaned as my hand traveled up her shirt and grabbed her breast.
“I think you want it as much as I do.” My thumb ran over her hardened peak as my cock grew.
Gripping the bottom of her shirt, I pulled it over her head, reached around, and unhooked her bra. With one hand wrapped around her waist, I dipped her and took her beautiful breast in my mouth, nipping her hard nipple and soothing it with my tongue.
“Oh, God, Jack,” she moaned.
I lay her on the bed as my tongue slid down her torso. Pulling down her leggings and panties, I devoured what I’d been craving. Several moans escaped her lips, and her body orgasmed.
Standing up, I tore off my clothes, grabbed a condom, and before I could roll it over my hard cock, Sierra sat up and took my manhood in her hand, wrapping her sensual lips around it and taking it in her mouth. I threw my head back as pleasure tore through me. Gripping her head, it bobbed up and down as she sucked it like a lollipop.
“Stop. I’m going to come if you keep doing that.”
“Don’t you like it?” She looked up at me with her beautiful blue eyes.
“I love every second of it but don’t want to come this way.”
As I slipped the condom on, it broke.
“What the fuck,” I sighed. Reaching into my nightstand, the box was empty. “Shit.”
“I’m on the pill. It’s fine. Get over here,” she said.
“Are you sure?”
“I’m positive. You don’t have to worry about me getting pregnant. Trust me.”
With her on her stomach, I climbed on top and slipped inside her, taking in the warmth and wetness that enveloped me.
“Oh, God,” I moaned as I thrust in and out of her.
“So much better without that condom,” she moaned. “Oh, God, Jack.”
I slowed down for I was going to come. Rolling her on her side, I thrust inside her again until we both came.
“Ah,” I moaned as I exploded inside her and pressed my lips against her neck.
Pulling out, I rolled on my back. Sierra turned around and placed her hand on my chest.
“I should go to my room,” she said.
“Or you can stay in here tonight.”
“Does Jack Atlas want me to sleep in the same bed with him all night?” A smirk crossed her lips.
“Yeah, I do.” I wrapped my arm around her.
I lay there, with her body snuggled against mine. I’d thought about what Claire said on the phone. I needed to accept the fact that she left our daughter and wasn’t coming back. But I couldn’t be the father Ellie needed me to be. My entire childhood was fucked up, and the last thing I wanted was to do that to my daughter. She deserved better.